34 
Farmers' Bulletin 1055. 
important, as the hides and skins should not be salted and piled 
while still warm, nor should they be allowed to remain unsalted 
too long or decomposition will set in. This happens often but does 
not show up until the hides are in the tanning process. 
As soon as the hide or skin has completely lost its animal heat 
it is ready for salting. Spread it out perfectly flat and smooth on 
the floor, which has been previously sprinkled with clean, coarse 
salt. Select, if possible, a floor having a slight incline to promote 
drainage. A 1 w a y s 
put the hair side 
down. Sprinkle the 
flesh side evenly with 
clean, coarse salt, 
using about a pound 
to a pound of hide. 
Be careful to salt uni- 
f ormry a n d thor- 
oughly and see that 
every spot the size of 
a dime has at least 
one grain of salt on 
it. Work the salt well 
into the heavy parts, 
such as the head, and 
also into every little 
place, particularly 
the edges. Be liberal 
in the use of salt; it 
will be economy in 
the end. 
It is important to 
use clean, pure salt. 
Where quantities of 
hides and skins are 
handled there will 
soon be an accumula- 
tion of used salt which has been removed from the cured hides and 
skins before shipping. This old salt, if washed free from blood, 
dirt, and fine particles, may be used again when mixed with about 
twice its weight of new salt, but no old salt should be used on packs 
or piles which are not to be moved for some time. In fact, there 
is serious danger of damage to hides from the use of old salt. New, 
clean, pure salt is always to be preferred. 
In curing 30 to 40 or more hides or skins, the}' may be placed in 
one stack by piling flat. Always stack with the flesh side up and the 
Fio. 38.— Skiunine 
over the flank of a sheep, 
knife carefully. 
Use the 
